We continue our Christmas special with eight more Christmas favorites.
"It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas"
by Bing Crosby
There are many versions of this standard, but Bing's 1951 version is one of the most-played of the bunch.
"Jingle Bells"
by the Singing Dogs
Don Charles of Copenhagen, Denmark recorded this version in 1955. If you have a dog, you know they are an important part of Christmas and you will smile listening to this song.
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
by James Taylor
This is from Taylor's second Christmas album in 2006. It has been gaining in popularity ever since to the point where some believe it is the best version of the song ever recorded.
"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"
by the Carpenters
Al Stillman wrote the words and Robert Allen contributed the music to this song, first made popular by Perry Como. The Carpenters' version is right up there as well.
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
Crystals
The Crystals recorded this holiday favorite in 1963.
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
by Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer
Frank Loesser wrote the words and music to this back-and-forth duet (the vocals on the printed score are titled Mouse and Wolf) about a man trying to talk a woman into staying at his home and the woman insisting she needs to go.
This version hit #4 in 1949.
"Sleigh Ride"
Boston Pops Orchestra
Here is the famous version of this song first written by Leroy Anderson. It was first recorded by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops in 1949 and has since become something of a signature song for the orchestra. The clippity-clop of horses hooves and the light crack of the whip add atmosphere.
"Ave Maria"
by Barbra Streisand
The words were taken by the Walter Scott poem "The Lady and the Lake". Barbra Streisand's amazing voice and range gave this song the lift it needed to make The Top 200 Christmas Songs of the Rock Era*.
Michael Nesmith, guitarist and the most talented of the Monkees, has died at age 78. Nesmith and the other surviving member of the group (Mickey Dolenz) just completed a farewell tour with their final show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on November 14.
Nesmith wrote "Different Drum" before joining the Monkees. Since the group didn't want to record it, Michael gave it to Linda Ronstadt, whose group the Stone Poneys turned it into a Top 10 hit.
The Monkees formed in 1964 and '65 and hit #1 with their first release, "Last Train To Clarksville", in 1966.
The Monkees were assembled by producer Don Kirshner as America's answer to the Beatles.
That kind of hype was something the Monkees could never live down. Kirshner hired musicians to back the group and chose their music from songs others had written, such as Neil Diamond's "I'm A Believer", the group's biggest hit and The #71 Song of the Rock Era*.
But behind the scenes, Nesmith felt frustrated that the group didn't have control of their own albums. In 1967, he led a rebellion against Kirshner and the Monkees began playing their own instruments and writing and choosing their own songs.
The group had their own television series for several years with a theme song they recorded.
In 1967, the Monkees scored their second #1 with "Daydream Believer", The #148 Song of the Rock Era*.
Nesmith left the group in 1970 to pursue a solo career. Although he never achieved great success, he did achieve a minor hit, one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Hits of the Rock Era*, in 1979 with "Cruisin'".
The Monkees got back together several times before Davy Jones died in 2011 and Peter Tork passed away in 2019.
Other sources will give lists ofThe Best Christmas Songs of All-Time; this site actually lets you hear them so you can see which ones you like the most. We have 200 of them and eight more are featured below!
"Oh Holy Night"/We Three Kings"/"Deck The Halls"
by the Ray Conniff Singers
The Singers do as fine a job as anyone on "We Three Kings". The song was written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr. in 1857.
The song is featured as part of a medley with "Oh Holy Night" and "Deck The Halls". The reality is that few artists can sound as good on Christmas songs as Conniff's Singers do and that's certainly the case on "We Three Kings".
"Mistletoe and Holly"
by Frank Sinatra
This song was written in 1957 by Hank Sanicola, Sinatra and Doc Stanford and appeared on Frank's first full-length Christmas album A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra. Sinatra's version is by far the most popular.
"Winter Wonderland"
by Ella Fitzgerald
Jazz great Ella Fitzgerald recorded her arrangement of this holiday favorite for her album Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
"Let It Snow"
by Diana Krall
This gifted Canadian singer-songwriter has taken the world by storm, becoming the top-selling jazz artist of all-time. Her signature nightclub-type voice and keyboard skills have won acclaim the world over. She gives this favorite a nice touch.
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
by Nat King Cole
This popular hymn first appeared in the 1739 collection Hymns and Sacred Poems by Charles Wesley but it is not the one we hear today. Wesley's tune is much more somber. George Whitefield, Wesley's co-worker, changed the opening lyrics from "Hark! how all the welkin rings" to the one we hear today. Then in 1840, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata and it is this cantata, adapted by William H. Cummings to fit the lyrics of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", that we are familiar with.
Nat King Cole gives us the signature version of this song.
"All I Want for Christmas"
by Spike Jones
We have hymns, Christmas carols, new songs and also a few novelty ones thrown in as well. Donald Yetter Gardner, a music teacher in Smithtown, New York, wrote this song after asking his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas and noticing almost all had at least one front tooth missing as they answered in a lisp. Gardner then wrote the song in 30 minutes.
The song was published in 1948 after an employee of Witmark music company heard Gardner sing it at a music teachers conference. Later that year, Spike Jones recorded the song with lead vocal by George Rock.
"Jingle Bell Rock"
by Bobby Helms
The first Rock Christmas song is this one right here. It was written by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe and released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It thus became the first Rock Christmas song to become a standard, hitting #1 in 1957 despite being released just two days before Christmas. It has since reappeared on the charts six more times and is second to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" in sales among Christmas songs.
"Silent Night"
by the Temptations
Featuring the great bass voice of Melvin Franklin and David Ruffin's super-high tenor voice, the Temptations give a great treatment to this holiday favorite.
Another day, another eight fantastic Christmas songs!
We have eight more great Christmas favorites for you right now:
"The Christmas Song"
by the Carpenters
This classic which BMI shows as the most-performed Christmas song of all-time was written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells in 1966. The Carpenters' magical touch enabled them to record a version that would put them alongside Nat King Cole.
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
by Bing Crosby
We have pointed out that the Carpenters, Perry Como, Bing Crosby and the Conniff Singers--all which start with the letter "C", are among the most successful artists at Christmas, which of course also starts with a "C". Those four mentioned above own 30 of The Top 200*!
"The Chipmunk Song"
by the Chipmunks
Here we have the song written by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., who is actually David Seville, the mastermind behind the song. The song was created recording three different parts sung slowly, then sped up to sound as if it were coming from chipmunks. "The Chipmunk Song" was the last Christmas song to reach #1 in 1958 and it won three Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Performance, Best Children's Recording and Best Engineered Recording (non-classical).
"Carol Of The Bells"
David Foster
Ukranian Mykola Leontovych wrote the music to this in 1914, with lyrics by Peter Wilhousky. Producer David Foster's version was included on his 1993 release, The Christmas Album.
"Mary's Boy Child" by Boney M
This song was written by Jester Hairston and first performed by Harry Belafonte. But Boney M's version has become the most popular.
"I Saw Three Ships"
by Sting
This is a popular Christmas carol from England. The earliest printed version is from the 17th century, published by William B. Sandys in 1833.
"One More Sleep"
by Leona Lewis
This song, recorded for Lewis' fourth studio album, the 2013 release Christmas, with Love, is regarded as the most popular of recent Christmas songs by the Official Charts Company.
"Joy to the World"
by Whitney Houston
Isaac Watts wrote the words that are based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. Watts published the song in 1719 in the collection The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament. Only the second half of Watts' lyrics are used today. The music was adapted and arranged by Lowell Mason in 1839 from a melody that is believed to have come from Handel's Messiah.
Whitney's spirited version in the movie The Preacher's Wife is next in our feature.
Some radio stations and satellite channels play thousands of Christmas songs each year, forcing you to hear all the bad and mediocre songs with the best. No need to sit for all that--we play the best 200 and only the best!
Welcome to our updated version of the special we first produced in 2011. Here are eight more great Christmas songs!
"Oh Come, All Ye Faithful"
by Pentatonix
We lead off today with the group named after the pentatonic scale, a scale with just five notes per octave. Although they do cover versions of popular songs as well as original material, the group is best known for their renditions of Christmas standards.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
by U2
U2's version of the standard by Darlene Love makes our list! Phil Joanou, who was making the film Rattle and Hum at the time for the group, directed this video, which was filmed in November of 1987 at the Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the group was set to perform.
"A Marshmallow World"
by Johnny Mathis
This song was written by Carl Sigman and Peter DeRose in 1949. Bing Crosby had the first hit with it but when Mathis included it on his Sounds of Christmas album in 1963 it became the most popular version.
"Believe"
by Josh Groban
Here is another of the most recent additions to The Top Christmas Songs of All-Time*, which gives Josh Groban 5 entries. Written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, "Believe" was featured in the 2004 movie The Polar Express.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
by the Jackson 5
This legendary group covered Jimmy Boyd's song for their Christmas album in 1970.
"The First Noel"
by Kenny G
Here we have a traditional carol, generally thought to be from the 18th century. The word Noel is from the French word meaning "Birthday". The song was first published in 1823 in Carols Ancient and Modern, edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics added by Davies Gilbert.
Kenny G included it on Faith: A Holiday album and his special touch generated interest enough to include it in this special.
"Winter Wonderland"
by Aretha Franklin
A young Aretha recorded an exciting and passionate version of this song in 1964. It was good enough to make The Top 200*.
"Silent Night"
by Perry Como
This was on the album Perry Como Sings Christmas. Como's reverent tone is not lost on listeners and is the reason for its great appeal.
Welcome to Day Seven of The Best 200 Christmas Songs of All-Time*:
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
by the Weavers
This popular caroling song is from the West Country of England from the sixteenth century. The song got its origin from the English tradition whereby wealthy people of the community gave Christmas treats to carolers on Christmas Eve.
This song stands out from other versions due to the unique musical delivery of the words.
"It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"
by Andy Williams
This great song was written by Edward Pola and George Wylie. It was recorded for the album The Andy Williams Christmas Album and was selected as the theme song for Christmas Seals in both 1968 and 1976. Since its release, the song has received more airplay each year and, although other versions have been recorded, Williams essentially "owns" the song. To us, it's not Christmas unless we hear this song.
"Ring Christmas Bells"
by the Ray Conniff Singers
We've already heard "Carol of the Bells" in our special. Minna Louise Hohman wrote an alternate version that includes more Nativity-based lyrics. When you hear that version, the song is called "Ring Christmas Bells".
And who better than the group that may as well have called themselves the Christmas Singers for it is Christmas songs that they excelled at and they did it better than just about anyone.
"Oh Holy Night"
by Celine Dion
Celine Dion gives a spectacular rendition of perhaps the most faithful and reverent of all the Christmas songs.
London, whose biggest career hit was "Cry Me A River" in 1955, was a nurse on the 70's television show Emergency, which also featured her husband, Bobby Troup. Troup (who also wrote the standard "Route 66") wrote the lyrics for this song, which featured an orchestra conducted by Johnny Mann.
"You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"
by Thurl Ravenscroft
This Christmas classic was written for the 1966 cartoon special Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The soundtrack captured the Grammy Award for Best Album for Children.
"Ding Dong Merrily on High"
by Roger Whitaker
George Ratcliffe Woodward wrote the lyrics, first published in 1924 in his The Cambridge Carol-Book: Being Fifty-two Songs for Christmas, Easter, and Other Seasons. Charles Wood put music to the words in The Cambridge Carol Book, borrowing from the dance tune "le branle de l'Official", from the dance book Orchesographie by Jehan Tabourot (1519-1593).
Whittaker's interpretation of the light, airy, almost magical sound of bells stays true to the dance origins of the song.
Enjoy more of this Christmas spectacular tomorrow on Inside The Rock Era!
There are now thousands of Christmas songs, and it's hard to sort through them. Don't go through the hassle; we already did it for you. Here are eight more ofThe Best Christmas Songs of All-Time*:
"Away In A Manger"
by Anne Murray
This traditional Christmas favorite was first published with two verses in the Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School collection called Little Children's Book for Schools and Families in 1885, edited by James R. Murray (1841-1905). The words were set to a tune called "St. Kilda", credited to J.E. Clark.
Murray's reverent treatment of the song makes it special.
"Let It Snow"
by Dean Martin
This song first recorded by Vaughn Monroe in 1945 has been covered numerous times; one of the most popular is this version, which reached the charts in 21 countries.
"Here Comes Santa Claus"
by Gene Autry
This has become a traditional Christmas favorite and although others have recorded it, Autry's version is by far the best. He wrote it along with Oakley Haldeman after riding his horse in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade in Los Angeles in which crowds of spectators shouted "Here comes Santa Claus".
Johnny Bond first recorded the song using ice cubes to mimic the sound of sleigh bells. When Autry recorded the song in 1947, he used real sleigh bells and released the song on Columbia Records, hitting #9. Autry included the song in his movie The Cowboy and the Indians in 1949 and the song was also featured in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation in 1989.
Autry's reference to Santa Claus as "Santie Claus" is a special touch that only adds to its appeal.
"Perhaps Love"
by John Denver & Placido Domingo
This entry is unique in that it isn't a Christmas song per se but its lyrics are so relevant that it is now associated with Christmas. Written in 1981 for his wife as the couple was nearing a divorce, the song hit #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart at the time and was billed as "Two Great Tenors on One Great Record".
Obviously, Placido Domingo was one of the great tenors of our lifetime. The song works because, rather than try to match Domingo's performance, which would have been foolish, Denver doesn't change a thing about his style, which itself was loved by millions.
"Sleigh Ride"
by the Carpenters
Another of the most popular Christmas tunes, this was composed by Leroy Anderson. He conceived of the idea during a heat wave in July, 1946 and finished it in February of 1948. The lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950 while the instrumental was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra.
The lyrics make no direct reference to Christmas or any religion, although some artists, including the Carpenters, changed "birthday party" to "Christmas party", and thus tied it into Christmas. As usual, Richard Carpenter's arrangement is outstanding and Karen's vocals are personal and amazing.
"I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas"
by Gayla Peevey
This next entry was written by John Rox and performed by 10-year-old Gayla Peevey in 1953. Peevy performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show that year.
"Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth"
by Bing Crosby & David Bowie
An unlikely duo teamed for this song that has become an all-time favorite. Bing Crosby and David Bowie (?!) recorded this one for Crosby's 1977 television special. Crosby's children recounted to Billboard in 2014 that it almost didn't happen:
Mary Crosby:
The doors opened and David walked in with
his wife. They were both wearing full-length
mink coats, they have matching full makeup
and their hair was bright red. We were
thinking, "Oh my God."
"It almost didn't happen," brother Nathanial added. "I think the producers told him to take the lipstick off and take the earring out. It was just incredible to see the contrast." Watching on the set, Mary noticed the transformation:
They sat at the piano and David was a little
nervous. Dad realized David was this
amazing musician, and David realized
Dad was an amazing musician. You could
see them both collectively relax and then
magic was made.
"Little Saint Nick"
by the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys recorded this song, a #3 smash in 1963, which was included on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album the following year.
The cream of the Christmas crop for 25 days, exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!
